Refrigerator shelf



March 26 1940. E. H. SEIBERT F L E H S R O T A R E G I R F E R Filed Sept. 28, 1937.

Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR SHELF Ernest H. Seibert, Evansville, Ind., assignor to 'Servel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to shelves and is particularly concerned with an adjustable shelf for use in refrigerator cabinets.

An object of the invention is to provide an i adjustable shelf formed of separate shelf members operatively connected by structure which renders the shelf adjustable as to overall length and which at the same time is extremely simple in construction and. results in a strong and rugged shelf as a whole.

The above and other objects and advantages will become more apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a portion of a refrigerator cabinet showing the improved shelf embodying the invention in a refrigerator compartment;

:0 Figure 2 is a plan view of the shelf; and

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views taken substantially on the lines 3-3 and 4-4, Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a refrigerator cabinet is generally indicated at C and is 25 provided with an evaporator E in the upper portion thereof and a liner 5 which constitutes the interior walls of the refrigerator compartment The improved shelf comprises a pair of shelf sections defined by exterior frames 6 and 6a 30 which may be formed of rod stock and are provided with a plurality of article-supporting cross .bars 1 and 1a. v

The shelf sections are connected by supporting brackets 8 and 8a which as herein illustrated are of substantially U-shaped form with one end ofeach bracket connected to the frame 6 in any suitable manner, as by the welds indicated at 9 and Ill. The opposite end H of each bracket is free and engages a guide bracket l2 which is suitably secured to or formed integrally with the frame 6a. At the point where the brackets 8 and 8a pass beneath the adjacent portions of the frame 6 and 6a, the said brackets are dipped or depressed as at l3, note particularly Figure 4, so as to permit the frames or shelf sections to align horizontally.

The manner in which the shelf operates will be obvious. When the shelf is disposed-in the refrigerator compartment on suitable supports 5 the brackets a and 8a with respect to the shelf I5 and [6, the frame members are adjustable in length. The shelf may be easily collapsed, or.

sections and the manner in which they are connected to the said sections ensures against sagging due to the weight of articles that may be disposed upon the shelf. The shelf structure as a whole will receive and support articles with 5 substantially the same facility as though it were an integral unit since the respective sections lie in substantially the same horizontal plane and the adjacent frames do not break the continuity of the supporting bars I and 1a. 10

I claim:

1. A refrigerator shelf comprising a pair of shelf sections having exterior frames lying adjacent one another, one of said frames being provided with substantially U-shaped guide brackets, and a pair of bracket arms each having a fixed connection at one extremity with the frame of one of the sections and extending beneath the adjacent edges of the frames and forming a support for the shelf sections, the opposite end of each bracket arm slidably fitting into one of said guide brackets, the said arms at the point where they pass beneath both adjacent edges of said frame members being depressed so as to permit the shelf frames to lie in substantially the same horizontal plane.

2. A refrigerator shelf comprising a pair of shelf sections including exterior frames adapted to be disposed alongside each other, members fixed tonne of said shelf sections and extending a into the vicinity of the other of said shelf sections for interconnecting said exterior frames, the other of said shelf sections having guide means to receive the ends of said members, and. said guide means and members being constructed and arranged to prevent relative movement of said shelf sections in one direction and permit sliding relative movement of said shelf sections in another direction at right angles to the first direction. 4o

3. A refrigerator shelf including a first section having an exterior frame, members secured to said section and projecting beyond a side of v the exterior frame, the outer ends of said members being bent, a second section having an exterior frame adapted to be disposed alongside said first section, said second section having guide brackets to receive the bent ends of said members, said guide brackets and members including the bent ends being formed and arranged to brace said sections when the shelf is supported and only permit sliding relative movement of said shelf sections in one direction toward and away from each other.

ERNEST H. SEIBERT. 

